US 2011/0235091 A1 · METHOD IMPLEMENTED IN PRINT SHOPS FOR SELECTING AND EXCHANGING JOB GROUPS BETWEEN APPLICATION PROGRAMS USING PORTABLE STORAGE DEVICES

Abstract

A method for pre-configuring a portable storage device for use in transporting print jobs in a print shop, and a method for using the pre-configured portable storage device to export and import print jobs between different devices in the print shop. The portable storage device is pre-configured to contain multiple root directories uniquely corresponding to multiple print job management programs. A configuration file containing exporting and importing instructions and administrative information is stored in each root directory. When exporting print jobs, the exporting program automatically locates its own unique root directory and exports jobs into that root directory. When importing print jobs, once the operator indicates an exporting program, the importing program searches the root directory for the exporting program for all stored jobs and displays them to the operator for selection. The exporting and importing programs also automatically checks the configuration file in the appropriate root directory for instructions.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method, implemented in a print shop system which includes a plurality of print job management programs each controlling a corresponding one of a plurality of print job processing devices, for using a pre-configured portable storage device to transport print jobs between the print job management programs, the method comprising:

(a) a first print job management program detecting the portable storage device connected to a first print job processing device controlled by the first print job management program, wherein the portable storage device is pre-configured to contain a plurality of root directories, each root directory uniquely corresponding to one of the print job management programs of the print shop;
and
(b) in response to a first command from an operator, wherein the first command indicates one or more print jobs to be exported without indicating any storage location on the portable storage device, the first print job management program storing the indicated print jobs in the portable storage device under a first root directory which corresponds to the first print job management program.

A print shop system including:

a first print job processing device having a memory storing a first print job management program and a processor executing the first print job management program;
and
a second print job processing device having a memory storing a second print job management program and a processor executing the second print job management program,
wherein the first print job management program includes program code configured to cause the first print job processing device to execute a print job exporting process which includes:
(a) detecting a portable storage device connected to the first print job processing device, wherein the portable storage device is pre-configured to contain a plurality of root directories, each root directory uniquely corresponding to one of the print job management programs of the print shop;
and
(b) in response to a first command from an operator, wherein the first command indicates one or more print jobs to be exported without indicating any storage location on the portable storage device, storing the indicated print jobs in the portable storage device under a first root directory which corresponds to the first print job management program.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method implemented in print shops for selecting and exchanging job groups between application programs using portable storage devices

Life of this patent

Method implemented in print shops for selecting and exchanging job groups between application programs using portable storage devices

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22